SBS World News Radio

The Labor government has broken its earlier forecasts for a budget surplus. But the Treasurer says deficits are expected in coming years.

The Australian sharemarket had its worst week of the year so SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Marcus Bogdan from Blackmore Capital to find out more & UBS Analyst Evan Karatzas explains why food prices will remain high.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) says it has been battling an increase in misinformation and threats ahead of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum on October 14. But the AEC says enrolment numbers are strong, with the highest number of voters ever to take part.

Rupert Murdoch has stepped down as chairman of both Fox and News Corp. He will hand over to his son, but remain involved as an emeritus chairman. Many believe the move may change the face of media and politics around parts of the world.

SBS Chief Political Correspondent Anna Henderson puts your questions about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum to Pat Callanan from the Australian Electoral Commission. More than 17.6 million Australians had become eligible to vote by the time enrolment closed on 18 September, meaning the highest enrolment level - 97.7 per cent - in the nation's history. That includes an unprecedented level of Indigenous enrolment, at 94.1 per cent.

Once Varroa mite-free, Australia has now surrendered its fight against the deadly honeybee parasite. The parasitic mites continue to endanger honeybee populations, threatening pollination and potentially whole colonies.

India has stopped issuing visas to Canadian citizens amid an escalating row over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called on India to cooperate with the investigation on the circumstances of Nijjar's death.

Scammers are increasingly targeting Chinese international students, with the scams using increasingly sophisticated techniques to imitate authorities. Authorities say just under $9 million has been lost to such scams since the beginning of the year.

The review was commissioned by the ACTU, and will look at whether companies have marked up prices excessively over the past two years.

The 12 month long inquiry will be led by three experts. But it won't include individual state or territory decisions on lockdowns or border closures.

Australia has become one of the first in the world to sign UN High Seas Treaty, a landmark to protect vast swathes of the ocean which no country officially owns. Environmental groups say the treaty will help reverse biodiversity losses and ensure sustainable development, but there is still a long way to go before implementation.

Fears of a civil war have been averted for now, with the announcement of a ceasefire between Armenian separatists and Azerbaijan. The deal relating to the Nagorno-Karabakh region, ends a 24-hour surge in violence - but the situation still remains volatile.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statements that the Indian government could be involved in the murder of a Sikh activist in Canada have strained relations between the two countries. Protests by Sikhs have been staged in Pakistan, while India has warned nationals living in Canada to exercise "utmost caution".

During London Fashion Week, Australia's High Commission has been transformed into an international runway showcasing Indigenous designers. It's the first time a show dedicated exclusively to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers has been held at Australia House.

Victoria has become the first state in the country to enforce a levy on short-term rental properties found on platforms like Airbnb. Premier Daniel Andrews says the 7.5 per cent levy will help address the state's housing crisis. He also announced the state is committed to building 800,000 homes over the next decade.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has dominated the first session of the United Nations General Assembly, which has convened in New York this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the world community must help Ukraine push Russia back, so that the focus can return to other global problems.

The World Health Organisation is warning of a potential disease outbreak in the eastern Libyan city of Derna, after the disastrous floods that hit the area on September 11, leaving thousands dead. Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on the leaders of the wealthiest nations to face the existential threat of climate change that created an 'awful hellscape' in Libya.

Australia will contribute millions of dollars to the world's nuclear watchdog agency as the fallout continues from the dumping of wastewater from Japan. Japan has sparked controversy in the region by staging the release of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific, splitting regional leaders about its safety.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has labelled protesters outside a No event in Adelaide as "disturbing" after they yelled abuse at a Liberal Senator. Hundreds of supporters of the No campaign gathered in the South Australian capital where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has called for respectful debate, has been accused of "gaslighting" the nation by holding the referendum.

Australia is facing a record Spring heat wave and health experts are saying it's important to prepare for the imminent hot summer. And the Bureau of Meteorology has declared Australia has now entered an El Niño climate pattern.

The United States military has found debris from an F-35 fighter jet that went missing after the pilot ejected over South Carolina. The pilot was on a training flight when he decided to eject from the cockpit and parachute to safety. The US Marine Corps has described the incident as a "mishap". Retired F-35 senior test pilot Billy Flynn spoke to Naveen Razik.

New research has looked at ways to reduce the barriers for culturally diverse women to take on leadership roles. The authors recommend a perception shift in what leadership traits are valued and are also calling for more culturally diverse women to be part of the discussions.

World leaders are meeting at the United Nations in New York for the Sustainable Development Goals Summit. It has an ambitious agenda - in his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for ending hunger, switching to renewable energy, spreading digitization and education, and full gender equality rights.

Hundreds of Libyan protesters gathered on Monday for a demonstration at a mosque in flood-stricken Derna. They are demanding that authorities need to be held accountable for the disaster that left thousands dead, even calling for their arrest.

Around eighteen per cent of Australians live with a disability, but far fewer are represented in advertising. A new campaign led by former Paralympian Dylan Alcott is aiming to dramatically boost that representation, with the support of some big name brands. But change from within the disability community has already started.

The Yes campaign for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament is confident momentum is rising after thousands around the country turned out in support at weekend rallies. But the No Camp says Australians remain on track to vote down the proposal at the October 14th referendum.

The companies behind online dating apps like Tinder and Bumble have been given an ultimatum by the federal government: 'Make them safer - or we'll do it for you.' The industry has been asked to adopt a new voluntary code to stamp out sexual assault throughout their platforms.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Raymond Chan, Head of Asian Desk at Morgans about the renewed interest in China as its economy responds to stimulus.

New data released by the Australian Red Cross shows people are concerned about an increase in natural disasters and emergencies but are failing to actively take steps to prepare.

As many as 30 per cent of Australians are living with an undiagnosed heart condition known as atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, increasing their risk of a potentially fatal stroke or heart failure.

It's a week since Derna Wadi, a dry riverbed most of the year, burst the dams built to hold it back when rains pour into the hills, and swept away much of the city below. As rescuers struggle in the flooded city, four Greek rescue workers and three Libyans have been killed on their way to start work.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni travelled to the Sicilian Island of Lampedusa on Sunday to visit the port where thousands of migrants arrived this week, more than the island's permanent population. The two have pledged to tackle the issue of migration towards the island which has received over 126,000 people within the year so far.

Around eighteen per cent of Australians live with a disability, but far fewer are represented in advertising. A new campaign led by former Paralympian Dylan Alcott is aiming to dramatically boost that representation, with the support of some big name brands. But change from within the disability community has already started.

Ron Barassi, the first player to be inaugurated into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, has died aged 87. He's being remembered as a player and coach who revolutionised the sport of Australian Rules Football.

What if artworks could speak? A museum in the Netherlands has a new exhibition that tells the stories of looted objects through virtual reality. That means, for example, that visitors can relive the theft of the Quadriga on the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

There are growing calls for the international community to do more to hold Myanmar's military accountable, for staging a coup in 2021 and alleged ongoing war crimes against civilians. In an exclusive interview with SBS News, Myanmar's de facto government in exile has called on Australia to spearhead regional efforts to resolve the conflict, and provide telecommunications support to rebel groups fighting the military.

The death of Mahsa Amini a year ago still evokes protest. Hundreds have rallied in cities around Australia to demand accountability from Iran's government.

The Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney says many First Nations people are distressed and disgusted by her political opponent's comments on the arrival of British settlers. But No Campaign leader and Opposition Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has been praised by the Opposition Leader as "brave" after she asserted there were no negative impacts from colonisation.

In Australia, around 1.5 million people care for someone living with dementia – and there is no cure. Dementia also affects thousands of young people, creating a heavy burden for parents. While experimental treatments offer some hope, a new report says families need more support as their child declines.

It's been one year since a wave of protests swept through Iran as women demanded more freedom from the country's strict regime. The unrest was triggered after 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by Iran's morality police, for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly. Singing and making music in public are strictly forbidden. But a pianist who learnt her craft in Iran is hoping to strike a chord with girls in Australia to stand in a spotlight they've long been denied.

Acne makes life unpleasant for millions of children and adults worldwide, but Australian researchers may have discovered an effective treatment for the skin condition. A dermatology expert says treatment will help boost the self-confidence of victims.

Australians will vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament on October 14, the first referendum to be held since 1999. Advocacy groups and the Australian Electoral Commission say they are working hard to make sure those with disabilities have access to the vote.

Petrol prices are likely to continue to rise as the global oil price surges to its highest so far this year. Rhayna Bosch speaks with Vivek Dhar, Mining and Energy Commodities Research Director at the Commonwealth Bank for more. Plus SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Kyle Rodda from Capital.com about the Australian sharemarket which ended the week higher thanks to positive economic data out of China and the US.

About one in every six Australians, or 4.4 million people, live with disability. Many receive support from services separate from the NDIS - and large numbers also experience neglect, abuse and exploitation. The long-running Disability Royal Commission, established to hear their stories, has now come to a close in Sydney.

The death toll in Libya continues to rise to devastating heights, with the Red Crescent reporting more than 11,300 fatalities. Experts say that the Mediterranean storm that dumped torrential rain on the Libyan coast is the latest extreme weather event to carry some of the hallmarks of climate change.

French regulators say their testing shows the iPhone 12 emits levels of electromagnetic radiation which are too high. Australia's regulator says it's looking into France's decision, but sees no evidence the phone is non-compliant with Australia's standards.

Australia's August unemployment rate remained steady at 3.7% as 64,900 jobs were created. SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Barrenjoey Senior Economist Johnathon McMenamin for more plus find out why Chris Weston from Pepperstone is increasingly talking to his clients about the direction of energy prices.

Scientists and policymakers must urgently work together in order to meet the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals ((SDGs)) by the year 2030. That's the view of a report, released by an independent group of scientists appointed by the UN Secretary General that has found the world is failing to meet all but two of the seventeen goals.

Advocates for safety are urging the government to enact laws to combat sexual assault in university accommodation. A victim-survivor says there should be increased awareness around the issue. And the Minister of Education has stated that action is being taken.

Accusations of misinformation and lies are being thrown around on both sides of the campaign around an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. It comes as AFL Legend Michael Long finished a 19-day walk from Melbourne to Canberra to garner support for the 'yes' campaign.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says it needs more funding to help deal with patients experiencing mental health issues. It comes ahead of a major world conference in October, which will discuss solutions on how general practitioners can best provide mental healthcare.